If anyone wants to discuss connections with other PC's, let's do it here, in one place.

Some background, to help with ideas:

Although I don't have a lot of detailed thoughts about the world outside the borderlands, I imagine the Keep is about a week's travel from civilization.

I'm thinking that the world is fairly densely populated, divided up into old, established smaller realms without a lot of empty space in between (more like the Forgotten Realms than Middle-Earth, if you will). So that gives you all lots of latitude in terms of what things are like in your homeland(s).

I'm also thinking that there's an "Eastern Empire" of some sort that's the last civilized realm before you hit the Borderlands.

I know there's a sea to the west (the Azure Sea) but I'm not sure if the only way from the Eastern Empire to here is over the water. Maybe there's a longer, more difficult overland route as well?

As for Duke Joryana, she's been preparing for this move her whole life. She's seconded herself to any noble house or family or state that could teach her anything. She's been a soldier, an officer, a general. She's studied with various scholars. She's spent time at court. And everywhere she goes, she makes note of exceptional people who could help her quest, and who would make the most of the opportunities it provides.

She's been around. And anyone might have run into her on the battlefield, in a library, in a courtly intrigue, or almost anywhere else she could pick up a new skill or ally.

Maybe you've been working for her in some capacity for a while, or maybe you just met. Nothing is off the table.

A good place to start might be a quick intro to your character, who they are and why they're wrapped up in this craziness.

(But only if you want. If you'd rather not have pre-existing connections, that's cool too.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:35, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

In a previous life, Finnick was a tutor to the children of human noble familes.  If it had to be one subject it would be history, I suppose, but I see him more as a general role model sort ... teaching ethics and philosophy and whatnot.

His courtier background will give him a unique viewpoint of noble courts and their inner workings.  He's a part of them, but he is also not a part of them, if that makes sense.  For all of his connection and goodwill earned over the years with these families, he was a basically always a servant (a well respected and accomplished servant, one that could be trusted with educating the younger lords and ladies ... but still a servant).

Now that he has left that life fully behind him and decided to pursued illusory magic ... he decided to answer Duke Joryana's call to travel to the Borderlands.

Here is why I signed on, from my RTJ.

Duke Joryana Al'Mira was passing through the town of Coven's Tree when he heard of troupe of entertainers making their way through the region. They had singers, dancers, clowns, but also a dwarf gladiator who would test the mettle of locals, in addition to fighting various animals for money. Seeing the potential this dwarf had, and how they were being wasted in such a place, Duke Al'Mira proposed that instead he come make a name for himself in the wilderness, testing their skill against true rivals. Kovann was looking for an excuse to leave, and now he had it.

I also shared Kovann's home in my RTJ. Unlikely anyone else is from there, but makes the world bigger.

In the side of a volcanic island Gun Galaq, in the Emerald Sea, is a dwarven monastery. Here the dwarves study both how to forge weapons, as well as use them in combat. The intense heat from the volcano makes it perfect to smelting, however they are considered radical to their more traditional dwarf cousins as they do not train how to make or use armour, as well as shave their beards. They consider the risk of burning too great, and that not all traditions need to be continued.

Still working on some details for Gill, but these main points remain:

• He's from a large port city on the Azure Sea (name tbd).
• He's mainly a dockworker (does repairs on ships or other woodwork, or just hauling heavy things back and forth). Believes in hard and honest work.
• As a genasi he's quite proficient in/around water, and (as a cleric) is able to perform small miracles using the rejuvenating powers of water.
• He has a relaxed/chill personality, and is a beacon of positivity.

If anyone is from (or passed through) a port city, it could be the same?
He wouldn't really be mingling in the upper circles of society, but there are some dockside pubs and inns that attract people from all layers of society for their fresh-of-the-boat seafood (and rum).

This is very rough, but it leaves room to fill in more details

Glinsael is a scholar attached to the college in the Elvish city of Minas Miril. She has traveled quite a bit in her studies.

She spent most of her time in libraries and places of learning.

She has been to many places of historical importance. This is her connection to the Duke. The Keep is a historical sight, and her research could help support the Duke's claim on the region.

I could see her spending time at a noble manor studying rare books in their private library. It's a potential connection with Finnick

I'm open to other options if people want to have character ties.

I am liking how this party is shaping up.

Even if it is not an outright background connection ... I feel like Finnick has a good roleplaying 'foot in the door starting point' as it were with each of the five other PC's

• Ayanna — Finn has a similar backstory in that he has also spent some time in the employ of the noble classes.  Although, she a soldier/officer, and he a tutor. Perhaps we can hype up on the same but different vibe a bit.
• Gill — I love that the cleric is going to be the beacon of positivity.  I planned on lawfully gooding the heck out of Finnick's alignment.
• Glinsael — History nerds unite!  He's read about it ... she's actually been there.  Like both sides of the same coin.  Practical knowledge vs book learned.  Common sense vs academic, etc.
• Kojik — Scribe buddies.  We're both wizards ... so we'll be best pals and want to exchange magical secrets during our wizard sleepovers.
• Kovann — Gnomes and Dwarves are country cousins (sort of).  Similar to the Ayanna-angle, we can emphasize the same but different shtick.  Like, perhaps when Kovann does something that is noticeably un-dwarvish (due to his membership in the rare monk sect) Finn can play up the 'jaw drop' moment.

Ayanna Bhunnel was a career soldier and officer.  Perhaps Joryana saw something of her younger self in Ayanna and she was asked to go along.  Having a spirit for trying new things and the excitement of the adventure, she jumped at the opportunity.  She does respect the Duke and supports her.

 -Finnick, I see a commonality with both of use serving the Duke.  There will probably be some elder respect for the gnome.
 -Gill, I don't see much opportunity to know each other before hand.  Between the two of us we'll have the Vehicles covered.  I'm sure the healing will really break the ice between them.
 -Glinsael, Girl Power!  Probably not much in common to start with but we'd have that bond.
 -Kojik, Human Power!  Like Glinsael, we would have race in common and that was probably it to start.
 -Kovann, finally a fellow warrior!  She would likely lean on him as it being up to the two of them to protect the others.

For Kojik, he comes from a larger city of unspecified name or location.  He studied under one master mage Juhlun Bhonno, an old and fairly well known and respected Diviner. Juhlun maintained a keep of his own in the city with several other wizards who had devoted their lives to the study of magic in a more academic manner (years of study vs adventuring). Their power was attained much slower of course, but also much safer. Juhlun's Divination powers were often sought by many - nobles, businessmen and even the common man at times. Whether he would reveal anything is always a gamble.

The Duke apparently went to meet with Juhlun shortly before the campaign to the Borderlands for one purpose or another. Exactly what she spoke to the wizard about isn't known: Did she try to recruit the master wizard? Did she simply seek advice? What is known is that shortly after her visit she paid another trip to see Kojik - a young wizard who had studied and worked under the wizard's instructions for several years. Following that meeting, Kojik joined the group with their plans to proceed to the Borderlands.